Conditions for veining and origin of mineralizing fluids in the Alpi Apuane (NW Tuscany,Italy): Evidence from structural and geochemical analyses on calcite veins hosted in Carrara marbles

This work deals with structural and geochemical (chemical and isotopic) analyses of calcite veins hosted in Carrara marbles in the Alpi Apuane, NW Tuscany, Italy. Geometric features and spatial distribution of veins provided estimations of stress ratio (Φ = (σ2 − σ3)/(σ1 − σ3)), driving stress ratio (R′ = (Pf − σ3)/(σ1 − σ3)) and fluid overpressure (Δs_i = Pf − σ3) at the time of vein formation. The obtained values of Φ = 32 and R′ = 0.43 reveal that fluid pressure was higher than the intermediate principal stress at the time of veins formation, whereas the estimated Δs_i ranging from 129 to 207 MPa indicates that veins formed under supra-hydrostatic to lithostatic pressure conditions. Carbon (δ¹³C_V-PDB = 1.81–2.10‰ for veins and 1.95–2.51‰ for host marbles), oxygen (δ¹⁸O_V-SMOW = 28.71–29.57‰ for veins and 28.90–29.36‰ for host marbles) and strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.707716–0.707985 for veins and 0.0707708–0.707900 for host marbles) isotope compositions in vein/host marble pairs were internally quite consistent. Combining our structural and geochemical data, a modeling approach was performed to investigate the compositional features and temperatures of calcite depositing fluids. The results of our studies give evidence that (1) pore-fluids in Carrara marble, consisting of metamorphic formation waters, were re-mobilized during veining event and migrated within the veins in closed system conditions, (2) veins formed after ductile folding phases and before high-angle brittle faulting events, at temperature and pressure around 250 °C and 210 MPa, and finally (3) about 12 g H₂O/m³ marble are calculated to have been available as vein parental fluid at the time of vein formation.     

Scaling the 3-D Mohr circle and quantification of paleostress during fluid pressure fluctuation – Application to understand gold mineralization in quartz veins of Gadag (southern India)

In this study, orientations of 157 quartz veins occurring in metabasalts of the Gadag region (Dharwar craton, southern India) are used to plot the 3-D Mohr stress circle, which provides information about relative stress/fluid pressure (P_f) conditions, as well as stress state during P_f fluctuation. To scale the 3-D Mohr circle, vein orientation data are integrated with (a) available estimates from fluid inclusions of highest recorded P_f (390 MPa) and lowest recorded P_f (50 MPa) and (b) intrinsic rupture criterion that empirically quantify rock properties. Based on the scaled 3-D Mohr circle, the absolute magnitudes of the three principal stresses are quantified for high and low P_f. Of 157 veins investigated here, 14 veins are identified as having favourable orientation for dilation at high as well as low P_f. These 14 veins have a mean strike of 150°, which is similar to the orientation of the gold-bearing quartz lodes reported in the region. The effective normal stress (σ′_n = σ_n−P_f) prevalent during dilation of fracture/fabric anisotropy with 150° strike is calculated to be −11.5 MPa at high P_f, and −1.0 MPa at low P_f. Thus, it is interpreted that in the Gadag region, a change in σ′_n of 10.5 MPa prevailed during P_f fluctuation and associated separation of gold from the fluid.     

Stress field in the central and northern parts of the Gulf of Suez area,Egypt from earthquake fault plane solutions

Earthquake focal mechanism solutions from 18 events in the central and northern parts of the Gulf of Suez with local magnitudes ranging from 2.8 to 5.2 and occurring between 1983 and 2004 are used to determine the type of motion and stress pattern of the region. Fault plane solutions show mostly normal component; pure normal faulting mechanisms and normal faulting with a strike-slip component. Only some mechanisms show pure strike-slip faulting. The fault planes strike in NW, WNW, NNE and ENE directions, in conformity with the geologically observed striking faults in the northern and central parts of the gulf. The principal stress orientation is also estimated by inverting the selected focal mechanism solutions. The results show that the northern part of the Gulf is subjected to NE–SW to NNE–SSW extension, with a horizontal σ₃ (plunge 3°) and subvertical σ₁ (plunge 80°). This means that the horizontal extensional stresses are still present in the central/northern Gulf of Suez.     

Shear strengths of sandstone fractures under true triaxial stresses

True triaxial shear tests have been performed to determine the peak shear strengths of tension-induced fractures in three Thai sandstones. A polyaxial load frame is used to apply mutually perpendicular lateral stresses (σ_p and σ_o) to the 76 × 76 × 126 mm rectangular block specimens. The normal to the fracture plane makes an angle of 59.1° with the axial (major principal) stress. Results indicate that the lateral stress that is parallel to the fracture plane (σ_p) can significantly reduce the peak shear strength of the fractures. Under the same normal stress (σ_n) the fractures under high σ_p dilate more than those under low σ_p. According to the Coulomb criterion, the friction angle decreases exponentially with increasing σ_p/σ_o ratio and the cohesion decreases with increasing σ_p. The lateral stress σ_p has insignificant effect on the basic friction angle of the smooth saw-cut surfaces. The fracture shear strengths under σ_p = 0 correlate well with those obtained from the direct shear tests. It is postulated that when the fractures are confined laterally by σ_p, their asperities are strained into the aperture, and are sheared off more easily compared to those under unconfined condition.     

Characterisation of interactions between a pre-existing polygonal fault system and sandstone intrusions and the determination of paleo-stresses in the Faroe-Shetland basin

Detailed analysis of 3D seismic data shows how hundreds of large scale conical sandstone intrusions interact with a polygonal fault network in the Faroe-Shetland basin. The intrusions were injected upwards during the Late Miocene through polygonally faulted claystones of Eocene–Oligocene age. Three types of interactions are recognized: (1) intrusions that are unaffected by polygonal faults, (2) intrusions partially or fully intruded into fault planes, and (3) intrusions arrested by polygonal faults. Type 2 intrusions are generally thinner, taller and wider, whereas those unaffected by faults are thicker and characterized by low dips of intrusive limbs (wings). It was found that Type 2 intrusions preferentially intruded into faults striking NW–SE, whereas Type 3 intrusions were arrested by faults striking NE–SW. Comparison of structural data and simple mechanical predictions allows paleostresses to be reconstructed at the time of intrusion. We have established that the basin was undergoing anisotropic horizontal stresses at the time of intrusions in which σ_H and σ_h were oriented N145°E and N055°E, respectively. Intrusion depth, polygonal fault dips and strikes have been used to quantify paleostress intensity and to give a σ_H/σ_V ratio close to 0.95 and a σ_h/σ_H ratio of 0.8. These ratios support the conclusion that sandstone intrusion emplacement occurred just after a Mid-Late Miocene SSE–NNW (N145°E) compressional phase when the compression direction had decreased in intensity and became smaller than lithostatic stress (σ_v).     

Dating pseudotachylyte of the Asuke Shear Zone using zircon fission-track and U–Pb methods

Zircon fission-track (FT) and U–Pb analyses were performed on zircon extracted from a pseudotachylyte zone and surrounding rocks of the Asuke Shear Zone (ASZ), Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The U–Pb ages of all four samples are  67–76 Ma, which is interpreted as the formation age of Ryoke granitic rocks along the ASZ. The mean zircon FT age of host rock is 73 ± 7 (2σ) Ma, suggesting a time of initial cooling through the zircon closure temperature. The pseudotachylyte zone however, yielded a zircon FT age of 53 ± 9 (2σ) Ma, statistically different from the age of the host rock. Zircon FTs showed reduced mean lengths and intermediate ages for samples adjacent to the pseudotachylyte zone. Coupled with the new zircon U–Pb ages and previous heat conduction modeling, the present FT data are best interpreted as reflecting paleothermal effects of the frictional heating of the fault. The age for the pseudotachylyte coincides with the change in direction of rotation of the Pacific plate from NW to N which can be considered to initialize the NNE–SSW trending sinistral–extensional ASZ before the Miocene clockwise rotation of SW Japan. The present study demonstrates that a history of fault motions in seismically active regions can be reconstructed by dating pseudotachylytes using zircon FT thermochronology.     

Vorticity analysis in calcite tectonites: An example from the Attico-Cycladic massif (Attica,Greece)

Although calcite tectonites are widespread in nature their use to quantify flow vorticity is limited. We use new (micro-)structural, petrofabric and vorticity data to analyse the kinematics of flow in outcrop-scale calcite mylonite zones. These zones are genetically related to a crustal-scale NE-directed ductile thrust (Basal Thrust) that emplaced the Blueschist over the Basal unit during the exhumation of the Attico-Cycladic Massif. Calcite microstructures reveal that the last stage of deformation occurred at temperatures 200–300 °C achieved by mild heating, which is possibly related with the reburial of the Basal Thrust's footwall. Vorticity analyses were based on the degree of asymmetry of calcite c-axis fabrics as well as on the assumption that the orientation of the long axes of calcite neoblasts within an oblique foliation delineates the direction of instantaneous stretching axis. Both methodological approaches provide consistent estimates with a simple shear component between 55% and 82% (W_n = 0.76–0.96). The use of the stress axis (σ₁) orientation recorded by twin-c-axis-pairs to quantify vorticity generally gives significantly lower simple shear component. Comparison of our vorticity estimates with previous estimates inferred from quartz fabrics and rigid porphyroclasts reveals that exhumation-related deformation in the nappe pile was steady state.     

The effect of dissolved magnesium on creep of calcite II: transition from diffusion creep to dislocation creep

We extended a previous study on the influence of Mg solute impurity on diffusion creep in calcite to include deformation under a broader range of stress conditions and over a wider range of Mg contents. Synthetic marbles were produced by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) mixtures of calcite and dolomite powders for different intervals (2–30 h) at 850°C and 300 MPa confining pressure. The HIP treatment resulted in high-magnesian calcite aggregates with Mg content ranging from 0.5 to 17 mol%. Both back-scattered electron images and chemical analysis suggested that the dolomite phase was completely dissolved, and that Mg distribution was homogeneous throughout the samples at the scale of about two micrometers. The grain size after HIP varied from 8 to 31 μm, increased with time at temperature, and decreased with increasing Mg content (>3.0 mol%). Grain size and time were consistent with a normal grain growth equation, with exponents from 2.4 to 4.7, for samples containing 0.5–17.0 mol% Mg, respectively. We deformed samples after HIP at the same confining pressure with differential stresses between 20 and 200 MPa using either constant strain rate or stepping intervals of loading at constant stresses in a Paterson gas-medium deformation apparatus. The deformation tests took place at between 700 and 800°C and at strain rates between 10⁻⁶ and 10⁻³ s⁻¹. After deformation to strains of about 25%, a bimodal distribution of large protoblasts and small recrystallized neoblasts coexisted in some samples loaded at higher stresses. The deformation data indicated a transition in mechanism from diffusion creep to dislocation creep. At stresses below 40 MPa, the strength was directly proportional to grain size and decreased with increasing Mg content due to the reductions in grain size. At about 40 MPa, the sensitivity of log strain rate to log stress, (n), became greater than 1 and eventually exceeded 3 for stresses above 80 MPa. At a given strain rate and temperature, the stress at which that transition occurred was larger for samples with higher Mg content and smaller grain size. At given strain rates, constant temperature, and fixed grain size, the strength of calcite in the dislocation creep regime increased with solute content, while the strength in the diffusion creep regime was independent of Mg content. The results suggest that chemical composition will be an important element to consider when solid substitution can occur during natural deformation.     

Depth dependency of stress ratios during the sedimentation of NW Gyeongsang Basin (Cretaceous), southeast Korea: Estimate of stress parameters and timing of tectonic episodes

The natural stress state in the lithosphere consists of the vertical load and Poisson ratio, and then additional horizontal compression and extension (denoted by Δσ_H and Δσ_T, respectively) are assumed to be superimposed upon this gravitational stress field. The resulting stress state is composed of the maximum, medium and minimum stresses denoted by σ₁, σ₂, and σ₃, respectively. The stress ratio is given as Φ = (σ₂ − σ₃)/(σ₁ − σ₃). A linear relation is found between Φ or 1/Φ and the vertical load in wrench-faulting and extensional stress regimes, respectively. The slope and intercept of the linear relation result in the additional horizontal stresses and level of (average) paleo-surface, respectively. Stress ratio is also determinable by the stress tensor inversion of fault-slip data. The earliest tectonic event (T_1 Event) in the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin consists of coexisting E–W compression and N–S extensional faulting episodes. Plots of Φ or 1/Φ against the burial depth (or vertical load) display several linear trends: two clusters in extensional episodes, and two or three clusters in wrench-faulting episodes. Because Δσ_H is assumed to be null or negligible in the extensional regime, Δσ_T is determinable from the slopes of two linear clusters as being −2.5 to −4.0 MPa. In wrench-faulting episodes, the values of Δσ_H are given to be 61.6–101.4 MPa by applying determined additional horizontal extensions. Determined levels of average paleo-surfaces and those of syndepostional structures illustrate that more than five wrench-faulting or extensional episodes have occurred during the T_1 Event, whose active age, consequently, ranges from the Barremian to the Coniacian. This supports that the coexisting coaxial faulting episodes with the same extension may correspond to the alternation of wrench-faulting and extensional episodes.     

Quantitative analysis of the shallow crustal tectonic stress field in China mainland based on in situ stress data

The latest hydraulic fracturing and stress relief measurement data in the Chinese mainland were collected. The total of 3856 data entries are measured at 1474 locations. The measured area covers 75–130°E and 18–47°N, and the depth range varies from surface to 4000 meters depth, which generally includes each active tectonic block of China and each segment of North–South seismic belt. We investigated the tectonic stress field by removing the effect of gravity. For this, we assume lateral constraints and Heim’s rule. The gravity contribution is removed by using the assumption of lateral constraint and Heim’s rule. Our results show: (1) the maximum and the minimum horizontal principal stress σ_H, σ_h and the vertical stress σ_V in the shallow crust of China all increase linearly with depth: σ_H = 0.0229D + 4.738, σ_h = 0.0171D + 1.829, σ_V = 0.0272D. Maximum and minimum horizontal tectonic stress varies as a function of depth D linearly 4.738 < σ_T < 0.0139D + 4.738 and 1.829 < σ_t < 0.0162D + 1.829. The horizontal tectonic differential stress is σ_T − σ_t = 0.0058D + 2.912. (2) The intermediate value of σ_T1 (regression value of tectonic stress inferred from the assumption of lateral constraint at 2000 m depth) changes in different areas, the maximum value of which is 45.6 MPa, while the minimum value of which is 26.8 MPa. Horizontal tectonic differential stress σ_T − σ_t increases linearly with depth and the maximum and minimum of σ_T − σ_t is 25.3 MPa and 13.0 MPa, respectively. In general, the stress magnitude is much higher in western than in eastern China. This indicates that the strong Indo-Eurasian collision dominates the present tectonic stress field in Chinese mainland. (3) Compared with other study regions, the northward crustal compression to the Qinghai-Tibet block is relatively lower in magnitude in the shallow subsurface and higher at deeper depth. (4) The orientations of σ_T in China mainland generally form a radial scattering pattern centered in Tibetan Plateau. From western to eastern China, they rotate gradually clockwise from NS to NNE, NE, NEE, and SE, which is consistent with the result of focal mechanism solutions.     

P–T evolution and tectonic significance of lawsonite-bearing schists from the eastern segment of the southwestern Tianshan,China

Robust quantification of pressure (P)–temperature (T) paths for subduction-related HP/UHP metamorphic rocks is fundamental in recognizing spatial changes in both the depth of detachment from the down-going plate and the thermal evolution of convergent margin sutures in orogenic belts. Although the Chinese southwestern (SW) Tianshan is a well-known example of an accretionary metamorphic belt in which HP/UHP metabasites occur in voluminous host metasedimentary schists, information about the P–T evolution of these rocks in the eastern segment is limited, precluding a full understanding of the development of the belt as a whole. In this study at Kekesu in the eastern segment of the SW Tianshan, we use microstructural evidence and phase equilibrium modelling to quantify the peak and retrograde P–T conditions from two lawsonite-bearing micaschists and an enclosed garnet–epidote blueschist; for two of the samples we also constrain the late prograde P–T path. In the two micaschist samples, relics of prograde lawsonite are preserved in quartz inclusions in garnet, whereas in the metabasite, polymineralic aggregates included in garnet are interpreted as pseudomorphs after lawsonite. For garnet micaschist TK21, which is mainly composed of garnet, phengite/paragonite, albite, chlorite, quartz and relict lawsonite, with accessary rutile, titanite and ilmenite, the maximum P–T conditions for the peak stage are 18.0–19.0 kbar at 480–485°C. During initial exhumation, the retrograde P–T path passed through metamorphic conditions of 15.0–17.0 kbar at 460–500°C. For garnet–glaucophane micaschist TK33, which is mainly composed of garnet, glaucophane, phengite/paragonite, albite, chlorite, quartz, relict lawsonite and minor epidote, with accessary titanite, apatite, ilmenite and zircon, the maximum P conditions for the peak stage are >24.0 kbar at 400–500°C. During exhumation, the P–T path passed through metamorphic conditions of 17.5–18.5 kbar at 485–495°C and 14.0–17.5 kbar at 460–500°C. For garnet–epidote blueschist TK37, which is mainly composed of garnet, glaucophane, epidote, phengite, chlorite, albite and quartz, with accessary titanite, apatite, ilmenite, zircon and calcite, the prograde evolution passed through metamorphic conditions of ~20.0 kbar at ~445°C to P_max conditions of ~21.5 kbar at 450–460°C and T_max conditions of 19.5–21.0 kbar at 490–520°C. During exhumation, the rock passed through metamorphic conditions of 17.5–19.0 kbar at 475–500°C, before recording P–T conditions of <17.5 kbar at <500°C. These results demonstrate that maximum recorded pressures for individual samples vary by as much as 6 kbar in the eastern segment of the SW Tianshan, which may suggest exhumation from different depths in the subduction channel. Furthermore, the three samples record similar P–T paths from ~17.0 to 15.0 kbar, which suggests they were juxtaposed at a similar depth along the subduction interface. We compare our new results with published information from eclogites in the same area before considering the wider implications of these data for the orogenic development of the belt as a whole.     

Speleothem record of the last 180 ka in Villars cave (SW France): Investigation of a large δ18O shift between MIS6 and MIS5

The Vil-car-1 flowstone core from Villars cave (SW France) provides one of the first European speleothem records extending back to 180 ka, based on U–Th TIMS and MC-ICP-MS measurements. The core offers a continuous record of Termination II and the Last Interglacial. The penultimate deglaciation is characterized by a prominent 5‰ depletion in calcite δ¹⁸O. Determining which specific environmental factors controlled such a large oxygen isotopic shift offers the opportunity to assess the impact of various factors influencing δ¹⁸O variations in speleothem calcite.Oxygen isotope analyses of fluid inclusions indicate that drip water δ¹⁸O remained within a very narrow range of ±1‰ from Late MIS6 to the MIS5 δ¹⁸O optimum. The possibility of such a stable behaviour is supported by simple calculations of various effects influencing seepage water δ¹⁸O.Although this could suggest that the isotopic shift in calcite is mainly driven by temperature increase, attempts to quantify the temperature shift from Late MIS6 to the MIS5 δ¹⁸O optimum by assuming an equilibrium relationship between calcite and fluid inclusion δ¹⁸O yield unreasonably high estimates of ～20 °C warming and Late MIS6 cave temperatures below 0 °C; this suggests that the flowstone calcite precipitated out of thermodynamic equilibrium at this site.Using a method proposed by Guo et al. (submitted for publication) combining clumped isotope measurements, fluid inclusion and modern calcite δ¹⁸O analyses, it is possible to quantitatively correct for isotopic disequilibrium and estimate absolute paleotemperatures. Although the precision of these absolute temperature reconstructions is limited by analytical uncertainties, the temperature rise between Late MIS6 and the MIS5 optimum can be robustly constrained between 13.2 ± 2.6 and 14.6 ± 2.6 °C (1σ), consistent with existing estimates from Western Europe pollen and sea-surface temperature records.     

Plio-Quaternary stress states in NE Iran: Kopeh Dagh and Allah Dagh-Binalud mountain ranges

NE Iran, including the Kopeh Dagh and Allah Dagh-Binalud deformation domains, comprises the northeastern boundary of the Arabia–Eurasia collision zone. This study focuses on the evolution of the Plio-Quaternary tectonic regimes of northeast Iran. We present evidence for drastic temporal changes in the stress state by inversion of both geologically and seismically determined fault slip vectors. The inversions of fault kinematics data reveal distinct temporal changes in states of stress during the Plio-Quaternary (since ～ 5 Ma). The paleostress state is characterized by a regional transpressional tectonic regime with a mean N140 ± 10°E trending horizontal maximum stress axis (σ₁). The youngest (modern) state of stress shows two distinct strike-slip and compressional tectonic regimes with a regional mean of N030 ± 15°E trending horizontal σ₁. The change from the paleostress to modern stress states has occurred through an intermediate stress field characterized by a mean regional N trending σ₁. The inversion analysis of earthquake focal mechanisms reveals a homogeneous, transpressional tectonic regime with a regional N023 ± 5°E trending σ₁. The modern stress state, deduced from the youngest fault kinematics data, is in close agreement with the present-day stress state given by the inversions of earthquake focal mechanisms. According to our data and the deduced results, in northeast Iran, the Arabia–Eurasia convergence is taken up by strike-slip faulting along NE trending left-lateral and NNW trending right-lateral faults, as well as reverse to oblique-slip reverse faulting along NW trending faults. Such a structural assemblage is involved in a mechanically compatible and homogeneous modern stress field. This implies that no strain and/or stress partitioning or systematic block rotations have occurred in the Kopeh Dagh and Allah Dagh-Binalud deformation domains. The Plio-Quaternary stress changes documented in this paper call into question the extrapolation of the present-day seismic and GPS-derived deformation rates over geological time intervals encompassing tens of millions of years.     

3-D Mohr circle analysis of vein opening,Indarama lode-gold deposit,Zimbabwe: implications for exploration

The Indarama lode gold deposit is hosted by vertically-dipping basalt in the Late Archaean Midlands Greenstone Belt of Zimbabwe. Major deformation events at 2.68 and 2.58 Ga established a complex array of fractures. A limited range of orientations of this fracture network opened towards the end of the younger deformation event, creating a lode pattern where 92% of mineralised veins dip at less than 50°, mainly to the E and W, and most strike directions are represented. A clustered distribution of poles to the quartz–carbonate veins indicates a constrictional stress field at the time of vein opening where σ₁ and σ₂ were near horizontal, (directed NNW–SSE and ENE–WSW, respectively), and σ₃ was near vertical. 3-D Mohr circle analysis demonstrates that σ₂ was approximately 67% of σ₁ (the stress ratio) and that the driving pressure ratio (R′) was approximately 0.4, reflecting the role of fluid pressure, mean stress, and the maximum shear stress in controlling conditions of fracture opening.     

Exploring the influence of loading geometry on the plastic flow properties of geological materials: Results from combined torsion + axial compression tests on calcite rocks

For technical reasons, virtually all plastic deformation experiments on geological materials have been performed in either pure shear or simple shear. These special case loading geometries are rather restrictive for those seeking insight into how microstructure evolves under the more general loading geometries that occur during natural deformation. Moreover, they are insufficient to establish how plastic flow properties might vary with the 3rd invariant of the deviatoric stress tensor (J₃) which describes the stress configuration, and so applications that use those flow properties (e.g. glaciological and geodynamical modelling) may be correspondingly compromised. We describe an inexpensive and relatively straightforward modification to the widely used Paterson rock deformation apparatus that allows torsion experiments to be performed under simultaneously applied axial loads. We illustrate the performance of this modification with the results of combined stress experiments performed on Carrara marble and Solnhofen limestone at 500°–600 °C and confining pressures of 300 MPa. The flow stresses are best described by the Drucker yield function which includes J₃-dependence. However, that J₃-dependence is small. Hence for these initially approximately isotropic calcite rocks, flow stresses are adequately described by the J₃-independent von Mises yield criterion that is widely used in deformation modelling. Loading geometry does, however, have a profound influence on the type and rate of development of crystallographic preferred orientation, and hence of mechanical anisotropy. The apparatus modification extends the range of loading geometries that can be used to investigate microstructural evolution, as well as providing greater scope for determining the shape of the yield surface in plastically anisotropic materials.     

P-T path of metamorphism and U-Pb monazite and zircon age of the Kitoy terrane: Implication for Neoarchean collision in SW Siberian Craton

The first data on P-T metamorphic conditions coupled with U-Pb monazite and zircon age obtained for the Neoarchean Kitoy granulite-gneiss terrane (SW Siberian Craton). Alumina gneisses of the Kitoy terrane indicate two-staged metamorphic evolution. The first stage of regional metamorphism (M1) occurred at high-amphibolite facies conditions at T ​= ​780–800 ​°C and P ​= ​8–9 ​kbar. The second stage (M2) belongs to MT-HT/LP type of metamorphism with the wide temperature interval 600–750 ​°C and pressure 2–4 ​kbar. Two age peaks were established on the basis of U-Pb monazite and zircon dating in garnet-anthophyllite gneisses. Both of them correspond to the Neoarchean age: the age of M1 falls into the interval of ca. 2489–2496 ​Ma, the age of M2 – ca. 2446–2456 ​Ma. The high-temperature metamorphism of the Kitoy block and nearly coeval granitoid magmatism can be an evidence for the Neoarchean collision in SW Siberian craton.     

Dolomite microstructures between 390° and 700 °C: Indications for deformation mechanisms and grain size evolution

Dolomitic marble on the island of Naxos was deformed at variable temperatures ranging from 390 °C to >700 °C. Microstructural investigations indicate two end-member of deformation mechanisms: (1) Diffusion creep processes associated with small grain sizes and weak or no CPO (crystallographic preferred orientation), whereas (2) dislocation creep processes are related with larger grain sizes and strong CPO. The change between these mechanisms depends on grain size and temperature. Therefore, sample with dislocation and diffusion creep microstructures and CPO occur at intermediate temperatures in relative pure dolomite samples. The measured dolomite grain size ranges from 3 to 940 μm. Grain sizes at T_max >450 °C show an Arrhenius type evolution reflecting the stabilized grain size in deformed and relative pure dolomite. The stabilized grain size is five times smaller than that of calcite at the same temperature and shows the same Arrhenius-type evolution. In addition, the effect of second phase particle influences the grain size evolution, comparable with calcite. Calcite/dolomite mixtures are also characterized by the same difference in grain size, but recrystallization mechanism including chemical recrystallization induced by deformation may contribute to apparent non-temperature equilibrated Mg-content in calcite.     

3-D Mohr circle construction using vein orientation data from Gadag (southern India) – Implications to recognize fluid pressure fluctuation

In this paper orientations of quartz veins from the Archaean age lode-gold bearing region of Gadag (southern India) are used to determine the relative stress and fluid pressure (P_f) conditions by constructing 3-D Mohr circle. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) analysis of the host massive metabasalt reveals that the magnetic foliation is NW–SE striking, which is related to early NE–SW compression (D1/D2 deformation) that affected the region. The quartz veins have a wide range of orientations, with NW–SE striking veins (steep northeasterly dips) being the most prominent. Vein emplacement is inferred to have taken place under NW–SE compression that is known to have caused late deformation (D3) in the region. It is argued that the NW–SE fabric defined the pre-existing anisotropy and channelized fluid flow during D3. The permeability was initially low, which resulted in high P_f (>σ₂). 3-D Mohr circle analysis indicates that the driving pressure ratio (R′) was 0.94, a condition that favoured fracturing and reactivation of fabric elements (foliations and fractures) having a wide range of orientations. This led to an increase in permeability and fluid flowed (burped) into the fractures. Resulting vein emplacement and sealing of fractures led to a reduction of P_f (<σ₂). It is argued that at this low P_f, NW–SE oriented structures continued to remain susceptible to reactivation and vein emplacement, while fractures of all other orientations were inactive and remained sealed. As a consequence, the study area has a cluster of NW–SE oriented veins. R′ is calculated to be 0.07 from 3-D Mohr circle analysis at low P_f, when fractures with NW–SE orientation only were susceptible to dilation. However, it is envisaged that any emplacement of veins in these fractures would have sealed them, thus reducing the permeability and initiating the next cycle of rise in P_f (>σ₂). Thus, it is concluded that the quartz veins in the Gadag region are a consequence of an interplay between conditions that fluctuated from P_f > σ₂ to P_f < σ₂.     

Static stress drop inferred from near-fault parameters for the 1999 Chi–Chi earthquake in Taiwan

In 2001, a special issue of the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (BSSA) featured seismological research for the 1999 Chi–Chi Taiwan earthquake. This study uses source parameters suggested by the first author in this special issue to estimate static stress drop associated with the Chi–Chi earthquake. The waveform simulation method was used to carefully examine these source parameters. The simulation results indicate that source parameters, inferred from near-fault observations, are well determined. According to the rupture area and slip, the static stress drops (Δσ_s) obtained were distributed between a small value of 47 bars near the epicentral region and a much larger value (>200 bars) to the north. Similar trends in dynamic stress drop (Δσ_d) were also recognized by the first author in his paper published in 2001 BSSA special issue. Comparing the Δσ_s with Δσ_d, satisfies the relation Δσ_s/Δσ_d ≈ 1. This relation suggests that fault motion is mostly spent releasing seismic wave energy during the rupture process of the Chi–Chi earthquake. The consistency between static and dynamic stress drops thus provides a measure of energy-moment (E_s/M₀) ratios, which range from 9.0 × 10⁻⁵ to 6.5 × 10⁻⁴. The average E_s/M₀ ratio estimated for the northern portions of the fault is 3.4 × 10⁻⁴, which is about 3 times that of the south. Such a high E_s/M₀ ratio can be interpreted as having low strength in the rupture for the northern portions of the fault, where the fault would release less energy per unit rupture surface to create the new rupture.     

High temperature creep of single crystal gadolinium gallium garnet

High temperature creep of single crystal gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) was studied in the temperature range of 1723–1853 K (0.86–0.94 T_m, T_m: melting temperature) and strain rate from 9 · 10^?7 s^?1 to 2 · 10^?5 s^?1. The compression tests were made along the 〈100〉 and 〈111〉 orientations. We have performed both constant strain-rate and stress-dip tests. For the 〈100〉 orientation, deformation occurs via the 〈111〉 slip systems. For the 〈111〉 orientation, both the 〈100〉 {010} and the 〈111〉 slip systems can be activated. GGG garnet is very strong under these conditions: σ/μ=(1–3)×10^?3 (σ: creep strength, μ: shear modulus). The creep behavior is characterized by a power law with stress exponent n=2.9–3.3 and high activation energies E^*=612–743 kJ/mol (E^*～45×RT_m, at zero stress which decrease with the increase of stress). Stress-dip tests suggest a small internal stress (σ_i/σ～0.62; σ_i: internal stress, σ: applied stress) compared to other materials. These results suggest that the high creep strength of GGG is mainly due to difficulty of dislocation glide rather than dislocation climb.